Moldovans can travel to EU without visas for latest three years

14:05 | 28.04.2017 Category: Official

Chisinau, 28 April /MOLDPRES/- Three years ago, on 28 April 2014, as a result of a lengthy and complex process, the EU abolished for citizens of Moldova, holders of biometric passports, the visa requirement for short stay to travel to the Schengen area. The Republic of Moldova was the first country within the Eastern Partnership that got the visa-free regime with the EU.

The liberalized visa regime with the EU is one of the most tangible benefits of the European integration for Moldovans – freedom of movement. Visa-free travel has significantly facilitated contacts between people and contributed to further strengthening of business, social and cultural relations between Moldova and EU.

According to the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media relations service, application of the visa-free regime with the EU has been characterized by a steady increase in the number of citizens who have benefitted from this facility. Thus, 241,415 Moldovans holding biometric passports traveled to the Schengen area by the end of the first year of implementation. In 2015, their number was 577,058, and 982,764 at the end of last year.

It is worth mentioning that 1 824 806 citizens holding biometric passports, including those from the Transnistrian region (125,106) have the possibility to travel without visas.

Any material published on the website of the Public Institution ’’A.I.S. Moldpres’’ (Moldpres News Agency) is intellectual peoperty of the Agency, protected by the copyright. The taking over or/and use of these materials will be made only with the Agency’s agreement and with compulsory reference to source.